Devin Popp is Royalton High School April Artist of the Month

Devin Popp is Royalton High School’s April Artist of the Month. He is pictured with a portrait he painted of his parents on their wedding day.

Devin Popp, son of Troy and Debbie Popp of Rice, was recently named Royalton High School’s (RHS) April Artist of the Month. He is a junior and transferred to RHS when he was in the ninth grade.

“When I was in the fourth grade in Foley, we had to draw a picture of the word of the day. It was while drawing that project I found out that I was pretty decent at drawing. I had a few random art classes before I came to Royalton. I remember my ninth grade art class and having a tough time telling if Mr. Halverson was ever serious or not. He was always joking around with everybody and never too serious about things. My classmates just said, ‘He’s got a kind of crazy sense of humor sometimes but you’ll get it pretty soon.’ Now I think he is one of the most funny and sane teachers I have ever had and I like him the most,” said Popp.

RHS art instructor Carl Halverson said, “Devin is one of the most polite, respectful and hard-working students I have had the pleasure to have around these past few years. He has got that ‘grew up on a farm work ethic’ and great abilities in many different areas.”

Halverson said one of the drawings that Popp values highly is a portrait he did of his parents on their wedding day.

“What impresses me the most about a student like Devin is the fact that he has a very strong sense of respect for his family,” said Halverson. “He doesn’t concern himself as much about what others may think of who he is. He is mature and confident enough to be more concerned with doing the best that he can to become the best person that he can be. As a father of six children myself, my wife and I hope that our own kids will be confident enough to display some of these admirable traits and sense of strong family ties.”

Popp said he has really liked his art classes at RHS. “I dedicate this project to my parents. It’s just my way of saying, ‘Hey Mom and Dad, I love you both and thanks for everything that you do for me and our family.’”